The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 Where were we? • Last week we looked at two people groups, the Jews and the Gentiles. • Before the cross, the Gentiles were separated from God, and the promises which were to Israel. • The separation was based on the circumcision “made with hands” • A result of the cross is that now the Gentiles are brought near. • Today we are going to look at how both Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.

2. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Who is “He”? • “He” is Christ, referring to vs. 13 • It was Christ who “brought us near by [His] blood.” • Christ alone is our reconciliation He is the only means we can be brought near to God. What is “peace”? What is man's idea of peace? • The absence of malice • The absence of war

3. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, • Peace in the Bible often means peace between ourselves and God. • That peace is the result of justification (Romans 5:1) • Peace can also mean the peace of mind in knowing Christ. • However, “peace” in this passage is talking about peace between two groups of people. Who are the two groups? • Looking back to vs. 12, they are the Gentiles (the uncircumcision) and the Jews (the circumcision).

4. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Was it enough to make “both groups into one”? What would happen if Jews and Gentiles were one in Christ, yet still had the “barrier of the dividing wall” between them? • The result would be Galatia. There, the Judaizers were holding the law over the Gentiles. It was a means of uplifting and separating themselves. • This barrier, or wall, was not a defensive wall. It was meant to separate one from another. • Philippians 3:3-10—Paul had every reason to glory in the flesh, and one really important reason not to.

5. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, • The word for “broke down” is a word that means: to unbind, release from bonds, to set free. • Not only did Christ make us one, He removed any reason any one of us could distinguish ourselves positionally from another. • God's intent is that we not look at exterior signs to set ourselves apart from the body. • Our unity is based in Christ, and in His blood. We did nothing to bring that unity about. It is all God's work.

6. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, {which is} the Law of commandments {contained} in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, {thus} establishing peace, • Christ abolished (or put out of commission) the enmity between Jews and Gentiles. • The Law was that which caused enmity. How did Christ abolish this enmity? • He did so by dying to the law--”abolishing in His flesh.” • He died to the Law when He died on the cross. • We died to the Law when we were identified with Christ in His death.

7. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, {which is} the Law of commandments {contained} in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, {thus} establishing peace, For what purpose did Christ abolish the Law? • “so that in Himself [Christ] He might make the two [Jews and Gentiles] into one new man” • God's intent for the Church is that we understand the unity we have in Christ. Can there be any true unity outside of Christ? Does unity in Christ mean that those “worship” Christ are all unified?

8. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, {which is} the Law of commandments {contained} in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, {thus} establishing peace, • The unity exists only in the “one new man.” • Only those that are in Christ (those who have believed the Gospel) are part of this unity. • It is not sufficient to name the name of Christ. • Those that are in Christ are a new man—a new-in-kind man. • This unity in Christ is the basis of our peace within the body.

9. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. • The phrase “and might reconcile” is one word in the Greek. • The word means “to reconcile completely; to bring to a former state of harmony.” • We are no longer Jew or Greek. We are one body to God. • This was not possible without the cross. • The Law, which caused the enmity, was nailed to the cross. Based on this passage, how important to Paul does this unity seem to be?

10. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; • “He came” refers to Christ. • The emphasis in the word “came” is upon the continuing action in the past. • The word “preached” means to openly convey good news. • It is often used to describe the delivery of the Gospel. • Darby's translation: and, coming, he has preached the glad tidings of peace to you who [were] afar off, and [the glad tidings of] peace to those [who were] nigh.

11. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; Who was far off, and who was near? • The Gentiles were spiritually separate from, while the Jews, God's chosen people. were spiritually close to Him. What was the direct purpose for which Christ came? What is one of the primary results of Christ's death? • Christ came as the promised Messiah, but Israel rejected Him. • A primary result of the cross is listed here: two formerly divided people are made one in Christ.

12. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. • “Through Him” refers to Christ. It is because of Christ and His finished work on the cross that all this is possible. “Access” is translated from a word that meant “the required authorized introduction to royalty.” • Not just anyone could enter the throne room. They needed special permission. • We have that special permission in the form of the Holy Spirit. • It is the Father who has given us these unfathomable blessings in Christ.

13. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. • This access is very personal access. It is an intimate access. It is not just ceremonial. The word have is present indicative, meaning “right now, in fact, we are continuing to have.” • Nothing we can do can ever change that fact that we have this access to the Father. Note the presence of the Trinity in this passage: through [Christ] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. • Both Jews and Gentiles can now come “with confidence to the throne of grace.”

14. The Epistle to the Ephesians United in Christ—Ephesians 2:14-18 Where are we going? Unity is one of the major themes of Ephesians. Paul is going to revisit it many times. • He will continue to talk about the results of this unity. He will also talk more about the basis of our unity. As believers we do well to remember that all members of the bodies of Christ have the same position.